Chapter 24: I Spy with my Little Eyes a Spy

Words: 3,561

Recap: Going to the Forbidden Forest a third, well isn't that a recipe for disaster? But with the revelation that Peeves lied (What a shocker! *rolled eyes*) we're now going to meet the mysterious ghost, Jack 'o Lantern thanks to Lily's threat. With a dream to clue me in that there's more to Jack than meets the eye.

Once again, I returned to the Forbidden Forest. The place that a colony of centaurs specifically told me never to step inside to that place again or I'll face the consequences. Barely a whole day and I'm already on my third time going to the supposed 'forbidden' forest as if strolling to any other normal forest, but with deadly creatures, centaurs that would kill, and a ghost that frightens his own kind.

Just another Tuesday then.

And why would I even need to return to the forest you might ask? Well, Lily has the same thought as she hissed, "Percy, I trust you. I really do. But can you please tell me why we're going to the forbidden forest and meet the ghost responsible for all this?"

"I know you have questions but... all I can explain is that I had a dream last night and I think there's more to Jack's story than meets the eye."

Lily looked skeptical at me but didn't ask further questions.

The sun started setting below the trees, but we managed to sneak into the forest without anyone noticing. At least, that's what I had thought.

The forest darkened through every moment, but there was still enough light that we could still make out our surroundings. Peeves was still tightly roped within our hands and guided us without so much as a pause. I guess if he was as old as he claimed to be, he had more than enough time to remember the layout of the forest like the back of his hand.

The bushes on our side rustled, then the sound of a snapping twig immediately got me to push Lily behind. Shoving her the rope, and aimed Riptide at the source of the sound.

What came out - no, who came out was a shock to us both.

It was Professor Rose.

And she had her wand aimed at us.

It felt like a game of Red Light, Green Light. We locked eyes in a fighting stand, trying to discern which one of us would move first and get out of the game. A game that might as well be life and death at this point.

We were so focused on one another, it took Lily to first break the silence, "I can't believe it, you're one of them!" she almost spatted out the word.

The venom in her tone somehow made the Professor scrunched her eyebrows in confusion at Lily, her wand still aimed at my general direction, "What are you-"

But Lily quickly cut her off, her anger burned brightly through her hard emerald eyes.

"You're part of those Death Eaters aren't you? You're the one who broke free Jack 'o Lantern and sent him after me!" She almost shrieked out the words her tone filled with accusation and venom, "Because of you, Severus and many others are now asleep and wouldn't know when they'll ever wake up...if they could wake up." Tears started brimming in her hard cold gaze and showed the slight crack of vulnerability.

As much as I wanted to comfort her, my eyes never left Professor Rose even with Lily sighted at the corner of my eyes. I watched how she became more and more confused as Lily goes on her tirade before she shot me an accusing gaze.

"Is that the lies you hand feed her? That I'm a Death Eater? How quaint of you," she sneered at... me?

Her choice of words and reactions was getting confused us, "What's that supposed to mean?" Peeves giggled at the drama unfolding and I shot a glare, telling him to shut up.

Rose ignored me and instead focused back to Lily, but her stance showed she wasn't in any way letting her guard down. "Miss Evans, I know it must be hard believing this but I'm not your enemy, I never was and I'm only here to help." Then she turned to glare back at me, "I don't know what he has been feeding you but you can't trust whatever he said because he's not who you think he is."

Lily's furious demeanor soften from the confusion she must be feeling while my heart was hammering off my chest like a storm, does she know I'm a demigod? Am I going to get outed? If so, does she have something against Half-Bloods?

The flash of fear on my face must have been all what she needed to confirm cause Rose had the same expression when Annabeth is proven right and ready to spill that secret, right here right now. All I could do was have my breath hitched as the blow of the truth would hit me.

"I'm afraid your friend is a spy from the Death Eater."

Only to be slacked jaw on how wrong her assumptions were about me.

Professor Rose might have been thinking I was shocked that I was found out when it was really the opposite. If we weren't in such a hurry and not talking in the middle of a dangerous forest, I would have laughed out loud at her at how ridiculous her theory was. "What in the world makes you say that? In what way and age did you find me as someone who would be dealing with Death Eaters?!" I asked aloud in a forcefully steady volume.

"I thought it was silly as well, but your actions had spoken for itself that you're not an ordinary student of this school."

"What's that supposed to meeeaaa…" I thought about her words for a moment and had to concede a bit, "Okay, I'll give you that much, but that doesn't make me a Death Eater."

"It's basically an elimination process. Without knowing how much influence Voldemort's influence we couldn't spare to ignore anyone suspicious even for First Years like you. For all we know, you could be someone disguising with a Polyjuice potion. The test I design at the start of the term was to see those who never encountered real-life beast. Those who could respond without a problem were deemed highly suspicious.

"When the Sleeping Incident then started, I gambled the likelihood it had something to do with Voldemort. Being a DADA Professor helps with the investigation and one thing I started noticing was you Percy Jackson was involved with all the victims one way or another."

"What about Angela?" I pointed out, trying to contradict her in some way since she might not know the Wisp Chase and wanting to prove her wrong.

"She's the same house as you," she retorted.

"... withdrawn."

"As I was saying, two rumors were actually spread since the first two incidents. That either you were the cause or you were the target. I figured at first it was the latter, but then I found signs of you snooping in my office."

Ah, so she did figure I was there.

"Naturally, my suspicion of you was heightened even more when I caught you following me when I was about to do my monthly report to my superior. After our small 'talk' I figured you were most likely a pawn than the cause. That you were used against your will a one of Voldemort's scheme so I provided an 'out' for you. Yet, you didn't take it and even denied it firmly. You were obstructing a few of my investigations. Confirming you were doing this willingly."

"Wait, wait, let me get this straight." Lily stopped her tirade, "You were investigating the incident and finally decided Percy's the culprit, and what's with the 'we' and 'supervisor' thing?"

"You have to trust me, Miss Evans, that I am not the 'bad guy' in this incident."

"Then how about this," I cut in, "You tell us who you are and we'll tell what we know about this whole incident."

"I already know the Ghost of Halloween is the culprit and most likely hidden in this forest," she retorted sharply with obvious distrust in her tone and heated eyes.

"Well, you found some of it from this, Idiot," I pulled the rope to emphasize the clown being tied on it, "and he lied to us so I doubt he told the truth to you either, or did you expect he's the type that would tell the whole truth?"

"Point," she agreed with great reluctance on her end.

"Professor Rose," Lily started, deciding to walk up toward her with renewed expression. One that showed hope and plea, "If you truly want my trust, tell us who you are, please."

All was silent once more, there was nothing but the rustling of leaves, the far howl of wolves, and the annoying grunt of Peeves between the muffle of his rope. After what seemed to be hours when it had only actually been a few seconds until she sighed defeatedly while one hand reached out within her robes and took out a wallet.

She called out the Light Spell so we were able to see what she was trying to show. It shone the ID card that was within and showed was made us all - including a curious Peeves - shocked beyond words.

There, in big black letters, was the Department of Law Enforcement from the top left corner. A photograph of her on the right, an Illuminati symbol with the word 'Always Stay Vigilant' at each side, and the word MACUSA. The title Special Auror was written below it.

Even I've heard of MACUSA. After all, that's one of the things Sev had asked me about when he first learned I was an American.

Magical Congress of the United States.

The three of us looked back at Professor Rose, each of us with gaping mouths. Well...Peeves would gape but his mouth is shut at the moment. Because turns out she is a spy, but not for the one we thought she was.

"You're an American 007?!"

"I'm what?"

"...never mind. You're a spy...like...being a secret agent and stuff?!"

"Bu...but...but, your accent is perfect." Lily pointed out.

"Thank you, but I have a knack to pick up a few accents easily," she said with a recognizable my own home accent instead of the stern British accent she had used before.

"Then why are you here?" Lily asked, still having a hard time accepting all this, "At Hogwarts since this place is only a school. What can you gain here?"

"True, British problem isn't one we usually concern ourselves. But it made our notice that a powerful wizard is beginning to recruit wizards and witches with the intention to harm others that deny their views of the Wizarding World. If it was a small cult we would be happy to just keep tabs, but their influence has spread to even within the ministry and even to this school."

"A spy of Voldemort is here?"

"Most likely, there has been information that he had stopped by here to gain a position as a DADA Professor but was refused by Dumbledore. The position was jinxed ever since, so anyone who teaches would some way or another couldn't stay to teach for another year. I doubt that someone petty enough to jinx a position he couldn't get, wouldn't find someone to keep an eye at the school."

"And you teach here despite that," I pointed out, and couldn't help the sound approval coming out.

Rose nodded. "Someone has to investigate who it was, because if his influence would go so far to the ministry then it would affect the Wizarding World as a whole. Besides, as a precaution, my contract here ends after a year of teaching."

A moment of silence was given as Lily and me exchanged bewildering looks, swallowing the sudden bombshell information we were given. After all, it's not every day you get to say that your teacher is a secret agent.

"I believe you two have something to say to me as well?" Rose reminded us, the suspicious glance she still giving me showed her still distrust, but it was good she's still willing to listen to us. Lily and me debated with our eyes, considering the best thing to say to her would be and if we should tell her everything or not. However, that part was cut off as a moaning sound set our spine straight and snapped us toward the source.

Without further prompting, all four of us crept slowly, brushing off leaves and branches to give us an open path to where I first saw the ghost, and moment later, revealing the pearl white form of Stingy Jack. He hasn't moved from his previous spot yesterday nor did he look any different.

The moaning was more audible this time and clearly coming from him, but what shocked me more was the sad desperate tone he was using. The ghost that had his head tucked down slowly moved up to glared at us that if he had been colored, his eyes would most likely be bloodshot.

"Who~ dares~ to meet ~the foul Ghost of Hallowee- ehk, ehek, hek -bloody hell what would I give for a mint candy." Jack tried to clear his throat for a moment or two before he then blinked at us with eyes with clear bewilderment, "You're here... Bloody hell you're finally here, haha! Sorry about before, force of habit. Point is, I knew I could count on you, Percy Jackson."

"Percy... what did he mean by that?" Lily turned to me for an explanation, a flash of betrayal crossed her eyes, and desperately needed a reason to prove her wrong. Professor Rose, on the other hand, looked daringly at me to explain things as well.

"I had a dream about him last night. He said he needed help," I explained.

"But that doesn't make sense," Professor Rose piped in, "You are the Ghost of Halloween, yes? You said yourself. Why would you think that anyone of us would help you when you've been putting students to sleep?"

Jack seemed to only realize the extra company as he began shaking his head in a more distraught manner, "No, no, oh why did you bring company? Especially her!" He pointed out to Lily, "This is bad, this is just bad, you're only giving them what they want."

"Them?"

"The Wisp Boy, the Will 'o Wisp! They're everywhere and the minute they found a pair of tantalizing bodies, they'll get to her then."

"Okay, hold up," I told him. "Slow down there buddy, you're not making any sense."

"Yes, you're beginning to confuse me. Are you saying the Wisps aren't yours?" The Professor added her sentiment. She walked closer toward him with an eager need for an explanation that could shed light on all this.

"Of course not, Wisps can't be controlled by anyone."

"Someone sure could," Lily took note.

"That's a business deal, there's a difference. Lookie here Lassies, you want to stop all this Sleeping nonsense you've been getting into then you gotta release me. Even better, go get a pumpkin and seal those stinkin' fire yourself!"

That took us back, "You want us to seal the Wisps?"

"No, I want them turned to seals. Of course I want yeh to seal them, what do yeh think I mean?!" The longer Jack ranted, the more evident his Scottish accent was, proving how unnerved and impatient he was.

We were all still in disbelief at the words coming from who we thought the culprit was all along.

Lily wasn't sure how to take it herself but managed to stutter out her question, "But...but...it said that you've tricked Satan twice, then died and tried going to heaven but couldn't so you went hell instead but your trick made it so Satan couldn't reap your soul to the very end and you wondered aimlessly for years with only a turnip lantern for guide where the Wisps came from."

Jack stared at Lily as if she has grown a second head and laughed so loud, his head looked like it was about to snap from how far back he threw.

"Lassie, you wound me. Do you really think I'm not aware of how bad my actions were that I actually consider going to heaven? Oh, the truth couldn't be further than that. Who would even willingly choose eternal suffering? You see, Lass, after I died, I ran!"

"You ran?"

"Yes. I've tricked Death - Satan as you know him - twice and do you think I would let him take my soul to do as he pleases with me in the underworld? Not a chance Lassie."

Being told the story like this, it became much more sense than what the book supposedly told us.

"Wha...what happened then?"

"Why 'Ol Jack cheated death for the third time, of course! For the longest time, me and Death has a kind chased-be chased relationship until I realize he stopped. Now I know my friend Death, he's not the type to give in even after centuries. Curious, I went to the Underworld and surprised, surprised there was a Civil War there."

My eyes widen at that, "The Underworld had a Civil War? How did I not know this?"

"You know how Hades can be a cheapskate. They were rioting for a better paycheck and it lasted for barely two years, Lad. Not something anyone bothers to remember, so no one knows I ended it."

"You?!" The three of us exclaimed.

"Yes, me, is it so hard to believe that I can do some good for once in my life? Now, where was I? Oh yeah, the Civil War of the Underworld."

Ugh, even the name sends shivers. That's one war I'm glad I'm not a part of. I can already imagine the chaos with monsters regenerating on the spot and for the demigod to become the undead army if they died. Not a pretty image.

"There were many details but the Wisp you see came from one of Hades's Punishment Field in a place called the Fire Pit where you eternally burn for your miserable afterlife. It was a new playground there at the time but they didn't expect the after effect, no one could."

"What the Fire Pit did was burning your soul form, which means the imprint of your soul, of your very self before you died become nothingness alongside your memories that had to make up everything about who you are. All you know will be the eternal pain of burned alive-well, after alive, whatever you get the point."

"That's terrible," Lily let out in horror-struck.

"That's life in Hell for you, Lassie. Anyway, what's left of them would be this blue burning fire of your soul after you go into the pit but with a small paycheck, they get messy security and few Wisps were able to pull themselves out and caused havoc."

"The war was immediately tipping to the protester favor when they included them. For not only ghosts, but even the undead also fell to their mercy and only adding more Wisp to their ranks. Then I came along and Death made a deal with me which is to reel all the wisp and he would leave me alone in my merry way for the rest of my afterlife."

"Of course I agreed. So with only my wit, I first ask myself what does the Wisps want more than anything else? Then I figured it was a form, either corporeal or not. To not be able to distinguish yourself with others is a horror in itself and I offered them a body if they fought for our side. They all agreed immediately. Once we won the war I gathered them all up and trap them in my turnip."

"If they can possess bodies, then why didn't they do so now?"

"That's because they were still too weak. See here Lass, the nightmares mortals have and the sleeping curse they seem to be in? That's them trying to fight back the Wisps effect inside them for trying to take their bodies over. However, they can go stronger because they feed on fear. So the more fear they make, the stronger they are, and they won't cause nightmares anymore because then they could take over a body for their own."

"Where will they even get the body?" Lily asked him in distraught, "I've seen the Wisps, they're tons of them."

"The students," I said in realization, "They're going to take over all the student body for themselves."

If possible, Lily had gone even paler, "We've got to stop them!"

"You're too late."

The two of us whipped around to Professor Rose, the worst scenario already in our heads, especially after that story we heard. The Professor was standing with a bunch of Will 'o Wisp surrounding her, her shoulder hunched up, and her eyes glow bright blue.

I gulped, "Any chances she just changed contacts?"

AN: IT'S FINALLY TIME FOR THE START OF THE CLIMAX!

God, you don't know how long I've waited so long to write this.

Also, what do you think about the revelation? I hope you like it. Please review and tell me what you think. Things will start to heat up as I shake things up for the last leg. Act I is almost over so get ready for the ride I'll take you in.